As usual, the spoiler warning applies.
40. The Duelling Club - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
The Situation: In the crisis of students being Petrified, new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Gilderoy Lockhart, sets up a Duelling Club to teach the students to fight. Um, there was only one session, which should give some indication of how well it went...
Why we love it: Because the best part of the whole second film is Lockhart, played by the fantastic Kenneth Branagh. We see more of his cocky attitude in this scene (and he wears a cape!), until he promptly gets knocked down - literally and figuratively - by Snape. We are also treated to some Harry/Draco sparring, which is always brilliant to watch... until, as ever, it turns a bit sinister and Harry freaks everyone out by talking to a snake.
39. Dumbledore's Army - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
The Situation: Because of the lack of decent teaching they are getting in Defence Against the Dark Arts by the hideous dictator Umbridge, our rebel friends decide to set up their own club in the Room of Requirement where Harry can teach them to defend themselves instead. It's a rather broad topic, I know, but we love all that it entails.
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| Token black guy |
Why we love it: The kids are fighting back! Particular highlights include the Inquisitorial Squard (basically Umbridge's posse) and Filch trying to infiltrate the Room of Requirement and failing, multiple times, as well as the forming of the DA in the Hog's Head and the actual lessons themselves. These include Ron and Hermione's mini-duel where Ron gets his arse kicked, and Neville finally disarming someone in a moment which heightens the love for him even more, if that's even possible.
38. Detention in the Forest - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
The Situation: Harry, Ron, Hermione and Draco are given detention for being out of bed after dark, and serve it by helping Hagrid track down a unicorn killer. Little do they know that it's actually something even more macabre than everything else in the forest...
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| This is generally how I feel about most people |
Why we love it: Way back when they were just little fresh-faced, prepubescent children, already they are being mentally tortured by Filch as he escorts them down to Hagrid's, who describes the physical punishment he used to inflict on students (including one of the best lines from the whole film: "God I miss the screaming..."). Another highlight is Malfoy running away like the coward he is when he and Harry find the mysterious killer - it's hilarious to see him running around like a headless chicken in the background as the cloaked figure advances upon a helpless Harry. It's nice too, to see Harry's rescue by the centaur Firenze, who gives some nice background information to the situation but is sadly not seen again.
37. Umbridge's Evil Quill - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
The Situation: Being the sick and psychotic woman that she is, Umbridge inflicts what is surely the most twisted of all punishments seen at any kind of educational institution - students are forced to write lines with a quill which carves their words into the backs of their hands.
Why we love it: It really is cruel, twisted, and essentially Umbridge, and this really reminds us why we hate her so much. She's one of the most evil characters in the whole series, famously described as "the most evil fictional character since Hannibal Lecter". Shudder.
36. The Wedding - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1
The Situation: Pretty self-explanitory, really - Bill Weasley and ex-Triwizard champion Fleur Delacour are getting married. Nawww.
Why we love it: It has no real bearing on the plot, but it's a lovely way to remind everyone that real life still carries on despite the war brewing in the wizarding world. Bill and Fleur wed in the Weasley's back garden and there is much merriment, until, of course, it's ruined by the Death Eaters. Can they not let them relax for one night? Evidently not. Just a little aside... nobody finds it a little weird that Ron's brother is marrying the girl who was once the object of his affections. Except us.
35. Weasley's Wizard Wheezes - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
The Situation: It's the scene which gives us the first (and sadly only) look at Fred and George's fantastic joke shop, which they have set up since ditching Hogwarts (look out for future posts regarding that little gem!).
Why we love it: It's not a long scene, but a nice look at the twins as well as introducing Cormac McLaggen. There's some playful banter between the twins and Ron, and if anyone else watches Behind the Magic religiously every time a film is released... Ben Shepherd's cameo! He should have had one in the last film.
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| How much for this? 5 galleons. How much for me? 5 galleons. I’m your brother! 10 galleons! |
34. The Destruction of the Locket - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1
The Situation: Ron returns from his angsty absence, and his first act is to save Harry from being choked to death by the locket-Horcrux and then promptly destroy it, but not before it does a little torture on him.
Why we love it: It was NOT chosen for the creepy Harry/Hermione incredibly creepy nakedness (well, maybe a little, since it did provide some incredibly cringe-worthy accidental humour), but instead for the reason that this is the first time the three have actually destroyed a Horcrux intentionally (not including the diary in Chamber of Secrets, that wasn't the same). It's a big moment really, where we finally feel like we're getting somewhere on our journey to destroy Voldemort.
33. Godric's Hollow - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1
The Situation: It's Christmas, and Harry and Hermione, a bit lost as to what to do with themselves, go to Harry's former home of Godric's Hollow in the hope that they will find something to aid them on their quest.
Why we love it: Like the wedding, this doesn't actually have any real bearing on the plot, but there is a highly emotional bit where Harry visits his parent's graves and sees the house he spent the first year of his life, as well as the meeting with Bathilda Bagshot. It's a shame that Dumbledore's backstory got cut from the final film, as it makes stealing the book from Bathilda's house more or less a complete waste of time. But still, we see that highly disturbing moment of woman-turning-into-snake, and then Harry's wand gets broken in the ensuing struggle. Typical. Nothing ever seems to go according to plan with them...
32. David Tennant - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
The Situation: Not really a moment as such, but he had to be included. David Tennant, before he was well-known, appears as Death Eater Barty Crouch Jr in an incredibly creepy performance.
Why we love it: His rapey tongue motion will stay with you for a while after you see this. He's really just here because he brings another level of sexy to the films, as if there wasn't enough already.
31. The Tale of Three Brothers - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1
The Situation: It's an extremely pivotal scene where we discover the fascination with the wand Voldmemort has seemingly been searching for, as well as being introduced to the concept of the Deathly Hallows. Hermione reads what is considered by many to be a child's story, which is shown in a spectacular way through animation.
Why we love it: It's so well done, and in a surprising fashion for a Harry Potter film - silhouette animation which is a subtle reminder that this story was meant for children (even though it's worryingly dark). It's also a great story, and is a pleasure to watch.
That's it for part 2! Tune in again tomorrow for more. And as ever, leave me a comment, let me know what you think.
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